Classmate asking for a month's worth of notes...?

[The Mystery Machine]

Forward the email to the teacher and ask him about the situation? Not sure if it is ok to give her the notes, IYKWIM?

 

[Bob NC]

The high horse that says, "I am making a moral judgement about your class attendance and punishing you because of it. I have what you need and I am choosing not to let you have it because I'm making a moral decision about your behavior."

Just my opinion - I'd just give her the notes, maybe roll my eyes, and firm up my policy for next semester. Either make it known that I only provide notes for the disabled students or charge others not on my approved list for the notes.

I just wouldn't make a moral decision about it - I'd just give her the notes and move on. You are allowed to have your own opinion about it, though - just like I am.

As the OP explained, the policy IS already in place.

LOL, with my luck I'd give her the notes, then she would score higher than anyone else and cost me a grade because of the curve. LOL

 

[indimom]

If I was just a regular student and they were my notes, then I'd probably share the notes. To be honest, I skipped more than my fair share of classes as an undergrad. Note sharing, and frankly old test sharing were just a standard part of my undergrad life. We all did it and I'm always a little confused when I see the pearl clutching shocks of gasp here when the topic comes up. Tests were pretty much a measurement of learning when I was in college and if you learned the material through whatever set of notes .... well then you learned the material and the box was checked.

But .....since your notes seem to be tied to some sort of job and official process, I can understand why you feel reluctant. I'd just tell her that you really aren't allowed to share those notes outside of official channels and suggest she contact a different classmate.

I get what you're saying (as far as it's just about what you learn), BUT you choose to take the risk that someone will say no when you expect someone else to supply what you need to learn. People are allowed to say no, and if they do so, it is not their fault if you do not learn and do not pass the test.

I do judge this person. It is presumptious to assume that just because the OP went to the bother of getting the necessary information required for a test, interpreting that info into a written format, organizing it, and typing it up, the OP should just hand over their hard work simply because someone else asked for it.

 

[akcire]

When I was in college there were services that old class notes. I can't remember the name but they printed on red paper so they couldn't be copied.

Unless the girl has a reason for missing a month and you feel it is valid, I wouldn't give them to her. I may offer to sell them to her. No free ride in life. Your time has value.

 

[Octoberbride03]

The high horse that says, "I am making a moral judgement about your class attendance and punishing you because of it. I have what you need and I am choosing not to let you have it because I'm making a moral decision about your behavior."

Just my opinion - I'd just give her the notes, maybe roll my eyes, and firm up my policy for next semester. Either make it known that I only provide notes for the disabled students or charge others not on my approved list for the notes.

I just wouldn't make a moral decision about it - I'd just give her the notes and move on. You are allowed to have your own opinion about it, though - just like I am.

I'm not making a moral judgement, and I don't think the OP is either. Its a practical thing. Asking student is not on the OPs list for giving out copies of notes, so no copies need to be provided. But I think saying no is a good thing, because so few people say that anymore. People need to say and hear it far more often. No is not an unkind word to say. Just say it in a polite way.

We all know how to say no to telemarketers, but we all seem to guilt ourselves into saying yes every time a person we've met asks us to do something for them. There ARE times when we can and should say no. I think this is 1 of them. I don't care why the student didn't go to class or needs the notes. I only care that she's not on the OP's disabled student list.

 

[clh2]

There would be "no way" I would pass along the notes - especially if the exam was graded on a curve.

Unless of course - the professor said it was OK, or the disability office said it was OK.

 

[Mokat76]

If you're in college, going to class is your job. Failure to go is not anyone else's responsibility nor theirs to rectify. If that's a moral judgment, so be it. The OP has a job to prepare notes for specific people not for someone who just misses a month with no explanation. And yes, I skipped a class or three in my day but I never blew off a month or expected someone else to carry me if I didn't have notes. Geez.

 

[dakcp2001]

If I liked her I'd give her the notes. If I didn't like her I wouldn't. I wouldn't make a federal case over it either way. Morally I wouldn't care why she wanted them or if it was " right". If we were friends I'd share if not, kick rocks.

 

[sam_gordon]

If I liked her I'd give her the notes. If I didn't like her I wouldn't. I wouldn't make a federal case over it either way. Morally I wouldn't care why she wanted them or if it was " right". If we were friends I'd share if not, kick rocks.

Agreed! Why does it matter what the professor or the disability office thinks? The OP is registered in the class. Therefore, regardless of her "job" of note taking, she'd be taking notes. I feel that "job" is clouding people's perceptions.

OP, IMO, you're justified in either sharing the notes or not. To me, it comes down to the relationship (if any) between you and the person asking for the notes.

 

[goofyintoronto]

Agree with other posters. Tell her "I only provide notes to those listed on the disability list".

I agree too. This is exactly what I would LIKE TO tell her. In reality, if we were friends, id probably give her the notes lol. If we werent, then too bad for her.

 

[mom2boys]

Are you paid to take notes for the disabled students? If so, I'd email her back and let her know she isn't on your list of students. I'd ask her to have disabilities services confirm her eligibility. If you are paid by disabilities services, you may be risking your position if you provide notes to negligible students.
At a minimum! I'd check with the professor. I am sure that there are other students who missed classes. Do you routinely provide them with notes?

 

[tinkerbellandeeyor]

I have to disagree. The OP is note taker for students registered with disability services and is only obligated to give notes to those students. In order to get those notes they must be attending classes on a regular basis and paying attention to the prof. Whatever the disability (CP, deaf, blind, MD) there is a reason that person is unable to take notes for themselves. Now if the professor asks for the notes (many do). it is up to the student to contact the professor to get the notes and explain why they need the notes.
Then it is up to the professor to decide to give or not to give.

Ot what is MD?

 

[Wishing on a star]

If my son were in college, he would def. be entitled to 'NOTES PROVIDED'.

These are the students that qualify for this.
There are enough people who think that special needs students are just 'takers', looking for an easy way out... (when they do have bona-fide and diagnosed and evaluated deficits) Certainly don't need other students, like this one, adding to that negative perception.

If this girl has no such special needs requirement, I would not be likely to give her my notes. Sorry, but I probably wouldn't do it.

 

[Wishing on a star]

PS: If you are getting paid, or discounts, or perks, for doing this... Could you compromising your job/position as note-taker if it were known that you were providing notes to other, non-eligible, students?

 

[StitchesGr8Fan]

You could send them to her Tuesday night since the final is Wednesday. ;-)

 

[sam_gordon]

PS: If you are getting paid, or discounts, or perks, for doing this... Could you compromising your job/position as note-taker if it were known that you were providing notes to other, non-eligible, students?

From earlier in the thread...

Yes, I am a registered student. All I do is send my notes to those in class that need them. It isn't really any different from other's asking for my notes, which is the main reason I started the thread. From my experience, people tend to take advantage of the services. I highly doubt it would affect my "job" as a note taker if I sent them.

 

[jgh]

Thanks for the input on this. I value everyone's opinion.

I feel like everyone should put in their effort in school, work, life...after all, you get out what you put in. But I also feel like some people just need a break from life every once in a while. Sometimes you just get burnt out. Maybe this girl is, maybe she isn't. She isn't a nasty girl that I've seen. I don't know her, but I can't feel like I can judge her because she's asking me for a month's worth of notes.

I was offended by the email at first because, frankly, I put in 110% to my school work. I take extensive notes and do my best. Why should this girl get a month's worth of notes from me after not coming? After all I drove to school every morning...caught the 20 minute bus ride to class...and sat through class. I guess it just upsets me that some people feel like they can just get help from people whenever and wherever, without putting their effort in too.

I thought about it for a while longer and decided that I would send her the notes. It wouldn't effect my status, job, class...just myself and my pride in my school work. Sure, I wish that she had emailed me at the first of the month, asking in advance if she could have some notes (no problem!), but she didn't. I guess I feel like it isn't my job to decide whether or not she's "worthy". Heck, the notes may or may not even help her since she didn't even hear the lectures to go along with them...I don't know, but it's not my problem anymore. Either way, by the end of the day I just felt bad.

Thanks again to everyone for their input.

 

[Ceila]

Thanks for the input on this. I value everyone's opinion.

I feel like everyone should put in their effort in school, work, life...after all, you get out what you put in. But I also feel like some people just need a break from life every once in a while. Sometimes you just get burnt out. Maybe this girl is, maybe she isn't. She isn't a nasty girl that I've seen. I don't know her, but I can't feel like I can judge her because she's asking me for a month's worth of notes.

I was offended by the email at first because, frankly, I put in 110% to my school work. I take extensive notes and do my best. Why should this girl get a month's worth of notes from me after not coming? After all I drove to school every morning...caught the 20 minute bus ride to class...and sat through class. I guess it just upsets me that some people feel like they can just get help from people whenever and wherever, without putting their effort in too.

I thought about it for a while longer and decided that I would send her the notes. It wouldn't effect my status, job, class...just myself and my pride in my school work. Sure, I wish that she had emailed me at the first of the month, asking in advance if she could have some notes (no problem!), but she didn't. I guess I feel like it isn't my job to decide whether or not she's "worthy". Heck, the notes may or may not even help her since she didn't even hear the lectures to go along with them...I don't know, but it's not my problem anymore. Either way, by the end of the day I just felt bad.

Thanks again to everyone for their input.

I'm glad you were able to come to a decision that you are comfortable with. I think either action would have been justifiable.

Going forward, you might want to think about developing a personal policy about sharing notes with students who are not on your list, so you are not taken by surprise the next time. The easiest thing, of course, would be to simply not share with anyone not on the list, and if someone does ask, just tell them that your notes are for students on the list from Disability Services only, and give the student the contact information for that office.

Personally, that would be my overall policy, but I'd probably have pre-determined a few exceptions that I'd be willing to make. For example, the first time someone asked for notes, I'd be more than happy to share, but I'd explain that I'm making a one-time exception and that they would need to make other arrangements in the future if they miss a class again. Or, I'd speak with the professor, and let him/her know that I'd be willing to share them with anyone who clears it with them first. Then, if someone asked me, I'd refer them to the instructor and wait for direction from them.

Taking it a step further, perhaps you could work with the Disability Services office to set an official policy. You are having this issue, and posters here have echoed the same thing. I think other note-takers at your school might welcome some kind of written guidelines to fall back on, too.

 

[FlyingDumbo]

If this was one of those " I only exist when you need something" friends (which it sounds like) I would just delete the email and have ignored it. You are nicer than me. I hope you get some good karma in return. Or at least, hit her up for a favor at some point later on. No skin off your nose to share, but I would have been annoyed too. I don't blame you for having to think it over.

 

[LoriABil]

As a one time college adjunct prof, and as someone married to a college professor I vote heck no! Don't enable this person - it's time she learn to take responsibility for her actions, or lack of action. You could always recommend she contact the professor or someone else in the class to get the notes.

Plus, even if she were on with student services, you don't need to provide notes for someone who doesn't show up. That is in our guidelines, but I don't know if its universal.